Spring shackle



11, 1930.` D, G R005 SPRING SHACKLE Filed Nov. 11, 1927 IN V EN TOR Smara, CRos lllimhll l ATTO EY Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DELMAR G. ROOS,0F SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE STUDEBAKER COR- PORATION, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SPRING- SHACKLE Application led November 11, 1927. Serial N0. 232,585.

This invention relates to vehicle springs and particularly to shackles for connecting the same to the vehicle frame.

In vehicles having frames supported by conventional leaf springs, shackle pins and links are used for connecting the ends of the spring tothe frame, the springs being formed with an eye at each end to receive the shackle pin. As the spring yields with the move- ,10 ment of the vehicle, the shackle pins rub in the ends of the spring and the shackle links rub against the sides of the spring. This rubbing causes a squeaking noise and it has been found practically impossible to ykeep t -e shackle pins lubricated so that this noise will be eliminated, because the entire weight of the body frame and engine is carried by these pins.

InV order to overcome a portion of the squeaking and the annoyance of the same, several inventors have constructed a shackle having a shackle pin which has ball bearing contact at its ends with the shackle links. These constructions heretofore used have not entirely overcome the squeaking noises as it has been found that the pin moves longitudinally in the spring eyewhich allows the shackle links to contact with and rub against the sides of the spring and frame spring hanger, hence, it is the principal object of this invention, to provide a spring shackle with positive means to restrain the shackle pins against rotational and longitudinal movement to prevent engagement between the shackle links and the side of the spring-and frame spring hanger. Another object is to provide a shackle for connecting a vehicle spring to a vehicle frame with a circular shackle pin having a longitudinal flat portion engageable with a flat surface of the spring eye, whereby the pin is held against rotational and longitudinal movement in the spring eye to eliminate the squeaking noises in the shackle connection.`

These being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing and then claimed, having the above and other objects 50 in view.

In the accompanying drawings, which illust-rate a suitable embodiment of the present invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a shackle connecting the vehicle spring to the frame. Y

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the preferred form of shackle pin more in detail.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-8 of Figure 2.

.Figure 4: is a perspective view of the lower pm.

Figure 5 is a section through the shackle showing a modified structure in which the entire width of the spring is used to prevent longitudinal movement of the pin.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, the frame spring hanger 10 is formed with vertical and horizontal faces which respectively seat against the outer web face and lower flange face of the frame side rail channel 12 and are secured thereto by the rivets 11.

The spring hanger 10 extends downwardly and as shown in Figure 2, is provided with a circular opening` 13 having a horizontal axis. rlhis opening 13 receives the upper shackle pin 14 which is held against longitudinal movement in the hanger l() by means of a cap screw 15 threaded into the hanger l0, which contacts with the curved surface of a circumferential groove 16 formed around the pin 14.

'l` he details of construction of the upper pin and its connection with the frame and links form no part of my invention but a short description of the same is given in connection with the lower shackle pin. The ends of the pin le project beyond each side of the spring hanger 10, and the corners of each end formed by the intersection of the cylindrical surface and the end faces are lilleted to provide curved bearing surfaces 17.

Each end of the upper leaf of the spring 18 is rolled to lprovide an eye 19 which receives the lower shackle pin 20. This pin 20, as shown in Figure 4l, has a portion milled off to form a flat face 21 and end walls 2l. The eX- Y rotation and against movement transversely parent. It can be seen that the downwardly` of the spring 18 as is clearly shown in Figure` 3. rihe pin 20, like the pin 14, is iilleted at its ends to form curved bearing seats 23.

' The ends of the'pins 14 and 20 are connected by a pair of oppositely disp-osed linksf24, each of which has cup shaped ends'25 within which are nested hardened steel cups or' ball races 26. The ball races 26 have a plurality of ball bearings 27 arranged therein which, when the shackle is assembled, seat on the` curvedfbearing surfaces 17 and 23 of the respective pins 14 and 20. Grease retaining rings 28 surrounding the ends of the pins 14 and 20, iit within the ball races'26 to hold lubricant therein forthe ball bearings 27 and the bearing surfaces. The links 24 are held in spaced relationship by means of a spacer tube 29 to prevent binding between the ball bearings 27 and the bearing surfaces. A bolt 30 extending through the links 24v and spacer tube 29 has a nut 31 .threaded thereon vwhich* draws the links 24' firmly against the ends o-f the spacer tube 29 in assembled position.

Figure 5 shows a slightmodification of the invention, shown in the other figures, the entiie'width of the springf being lbent VKdownwardly 'to engage the depression 36 in the.

spring shackle pin 37, the side walls of the spring eye engaging side walls of the depression .86, as previously described in connection with the pin 20. n

From the foregoing description, the advantages of the present invention are readily apbent tongue 22 engages the depression4 2l of the shackle pin 2O to prevent rotation thereof, and also to hold the same against longitudinal movement in the spring eye 19. By

preventing longitudinal movement of the pin 20, it is seen that the shackle links 24 at all times are prevented from rubbing against the sides of theV spring so that the squeaking noises are eliminated which are so annoyingV Y to the occupants of the vehicles.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spiritand` substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is eommensuratewith the appended claims. `What I claim is: Y Y y 1. In a shackle for connecting'a vehicle spring to a frame member, a pair of spaced pin providing a fiat face, and an eye formed in an end of said spring, a portion of the metal I Y forming said eye being bent' downwardly into said depression to abut againsty said fiat surface for anchoring said pin against rogageinent with the sidesof said spring.

2. in ay shackle for connecting a Vvehicle s rino` to a frame Viiieniber a air ofs aced links pivotally connected at their upper ends to said frame member, a shackle pin pivotally supported at its ends byV thelower endsv of said links, a depression in said pinintermediate the ends thereof providing a iiat face, and an eye formed in an .end of Ysaid spring,

a portion of the metal forming said eye being bent downwardly into said depression to abut against said iiat surface and the' end walls of said depression for anchoring said y pinM against rotational and longitudinal move ment .whereby said links Vare restrained against frictional'engagenient with the sides of said spring.

8. 1n ka Yshackle Vfor connecting a vehiclei spring to a frame member, a pair of spaced links pivotally connected at theirupper ends tosaid frame member, a spacer tube holding f said links in spaced relationship, a bolt eX- tendingthrough saidv spacer tube connectingit said links, a shackle pinpivotally supported at its end by the lower ends of said links, said pin having curved circumferential bearing surfaces at its ends, thrust bearings seated on said surfaces engaging said lower lends of.v said links, a longitudinal depression in'one ico sideof said pinprovidinga flat-face, and a spring eye formed in one end of said spring,y

a portion of the metal forming said eye being' bent downwardly into said depression Vto engage said flat face, said portion of said spring' received y by said depression anchoring said ypin against movement whereby said links are held iii spaced relationshipy relative to the sides of said spring.

4. A shackle lfor connecting a vehicle spring to a frame inembercomprising a pair of spaced'links pivotally connected at their upper ends to said frame membeig'anda p shacklepin received within an eye in said? spring pivotally supported at its ends by the lower ends of said links, `said pin having a said spring against longitudinal movement on said pin.;

' fiat faceextending longitudinally thereoffit- Y ting against a face of said spring to restrain i Signed by me lat South Bend, Indiana, this 7th day of November, 1927. .y

'Y A, DELMAR G. ROOS. v

links pivotally connected at their upperfends" said links, a longitudinal.depression in said 

